Review of Unsane (2018) by Christopher R — 22 Mar 2018

UNSANE is a surprisingly effective psychological horror film directed by Steven Soderbergh. Without giving too much of the film away, Claire Foy plays a young executive who seeks a counseling session regarding a stalker and unwittingly commits herself into a mental institution.

UNSANE was shot using an iPhone 7, which help give the film a lo-fi, grainy feel similar to the low budget exploitation films during the 1970's to mid 1980's. The lighting is kept low and compliments the tone of the film.

The freeze frame shot at the conclusion help illustrate the genre style Soderbergh is going for. The subtext in UNSANE is about the fraudulent business between health care facilities and insurance companies.

The theme of corporate paranoia was frequently explored in the early work of David Cronenberg and coincidentally, David is the name of the antagonist in this film. Savvy exploitation audiences will also find similarities between UNSANE and the 1985 exploitation film called HELL HOLE, just without the boobs and lesbian sex.

There are tense moments, particularly during the solitary confinement scene, which utilize a minimal music score to its advantage. It is a pleasure to see a current horror film finally delivering the goods and a subtle touch is Amy Irving in a supporting role that provides relief from a genuinely unsettling film.